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Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Cindy Paterson's The Senses Series

Right...so you guys already know I read reviews and pick up books based on those reviews a lot of times (good, bad or indifferent). So, I found this particular series while reading the rocking review site of the lovely MsRomanticReads (very awesome review site, by the way). Back in December, I picked up a book she reviewed called Jump by Cindy Paterson. Now, being the awesome person that I am (no really!), I felt it's my literary duty to inform people this book is now free at Amazon for a limited time. Don't even bother questioning it. Just go ahead and grab a copy while you can.

Blurb: Book One of the Senses:
A band of extraordinary warriors walk
in the shadows of the human world with capabilities derived from the
senses: Trackers, Sounders, Healers, Tasters, Visionaries and the rare
Reflectors. Collectively, they are known as the 'Senses'.

Centuries of loyalty

His
code of honor was respected without question, until he consumed the
blood of an enemy in exchange for a mortal woman to be set free from
certain slavery.

He can't forget her

Despite
knowing, he will be imprisoned and put to death if caught, Balen, a
fierce Senses Tracker, returns to Toronto to find the mortal woman,
Danielle, he left behind two years ago. Haunted with memories of the
torture they endured in the hands of a Senses enemy, Balen's
determination to see her again, drives him to risk everything. But when
he does, a new enemy comes into play, one he can't defeat.

To conquer the wrath of fear

Determined
to find some sort of peace after her abduction, Danielle finds solace
in painting a man from her nocturnal unconsciousness. When he comes
knocking on her door, her world is shattered and Danielle must face her
worst fears in order to survive what is coming after them. It won't
stop. It can't. For the ancient spell has no compassion.

A
journey of tenacious desire that refuses to fade even though that is
what will destroy them. Because--in order for Danielle to live, first
she must die.

Review: You guys already know I sometimes start with "preambles" so here we go. I could kick myself for not reading this book sooner. That being said, I could also kick myself for starting the book at eleven at night.

I wasn't entirely sure what I expected when I picked up this book. I read the blurb and I liked the sound of it. Of course, with limited time to read, it took me a while to get to it. Late at night, I was messing around on my kindle and figured I would read a couple pages to see how it was written. Well... I stayed up till four in the morning reading the book.

Honestly, I couldn't put it down. It flipping grabbed my attention and just wouldn't let go. The characters are well-developed and the dialog was smooth. Definitely a pleasant surprise, to say the least.

I loved Balen and Danielle together. He's one of those possessive, alpha males that knows how to handle his lady with delicate care, which she needs. Lord, the lady had a bit of rough time in the beginning, with due cause of course.

The secondary characters are really something else as well. They are all well fleshed out with backstories of their own that you're anxious to learn more about. After finishing book one, immediately, I picked up book two. I had to know what would happen with the next hero and heroine in Step.

Blurb: ‘Only her love can restore his trust—only with his trust can she win her battle.’

Kilter,
an immortal Senses Visionary, excels at being rude and crass with
little hope of finding peace after being betrayed and tortured by his
brother more than a hundred years ago. Reckless and stubborn he has
alienated everyone—just the way he likes it. Until the day he meets
Rayne and emotions he buried long ago are reawakened.

Rayne
suffers from Anorexia Nervosa. Trapped by debilitating thoughts and a
false sense of control, Rayne is slowly dying. Her husband has kept her
secluded and alone for years, causing her to withdraw into an
emotionless shell. But Rayne’s outward behaviour is deceiving for
beneath her delicate existence is a woman with strength. The trouble
is—can she find that part of herself that has been driven away? Or has
her cruel husband broken her fragile existence?

The two tortured
souls are brought together only to be torn apart and forced to relive
their horrific pasts in order to find salvation. But Rayne’s past has
more significance than the Senses realize and their enemies will do
anything in order to get her back.

The Senses are in for one
hell of a fight as Waleron is forced to make the hardest decision of his
life—Damien is tortured beyond his emotional capability by the witch
Abigail—and Delara is drawn into a vampire’s arms only to have him use
her darkest secret against her.

Review: Ha, at least I was smart enough not to start reading this second book at eleven at night.

Once again, you have a well-structured world with well-developed characters and a whole lot of action and drama.

After reading Jump, I had to read this book the following day. I couldn't help it. After the interaction between Rayne and Kilter, it was a necessity for me to find out how these two would end up together.

And I can't help myself. I loved Kilter. He's crude, rude, and really a bit of a bastard to absolutely everyone except Rayne. He's protective of her and determined to see her well. To be honest, he was just the type hero Rayne needed in her tragic life. Even though, she's hard-pressed to step (ha, get it) outside of her shell and open up (with good reason), she saw through all his direct, abrasive mannerisms and speech. I loved the bond formed between these two.

And revelations.. this book had a couple that took me by surprise. With one in particular, it's sort of like I could feel, yes feel, that it might head in that direction, but I thought to myself, "Nah, there's just no way." Then BAM! I gasped and my mouth dropped open.

So, yeah, Cindy Paterson has become one of my pre-order authors now. And my final thought is.. why, oh why must I wait so flipping long for book three. I HAVE to know what's going to happen next with a few secondary characters.

16 comments:

Great reviews, Melissa. I like the sound of Balen: possessive, alpha male that knows how to handle his lady with delicate care ---> SOLD! And since you & Michelle loved it, I am giving this series a go! :)